[WIP] Mediterranean

[Pureon]

I've been working on a 18x18 map of the Mediterranean region and it's now slowly taking shape. I have the heightmap and most textures in place, however still lots of fine tuning ahead. This shows some of it:



The map is centred on an area between Tunisia and Italy, however countries like Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Morocco, Algeria, and Libya are also present.

I have a few questions that I hope someone more experienced can help me with!

1) The Editor produces a thumbnail.dds with only part of the map, is there a way to make it do the entire 18x18 area?
2) The Editor limits the area I can edit, I guess there's no way to get it to show the entire 18x18 map?

Any comments or ideas for the scenario are very welcome!

[Warll]

When I saw your avatar I thought it was a screenshot of CIV, the texture job looks incredible.

In regards to the Terrain Editor I am not aware of way configuration options. You might have to cheat and temporary increase the map's size (Using deed space).

[Pureon]

Thanks Warll!

I haven't spent much time in the editor, most of the work so far has been in Photoshop, so not sure what the textures really look like at closer zooms.

When you say increase the map size, would that produce a thumbnail of the entire 18x18 region, or is the thumbnail always limited to the 15x15 area (or even less)?

[Warll]

The area your missing is normal, you'll notice it on other maps as well. By using a temp larger map you can 'trick' the map editor into rendering all of your map since it will shave off the temp portion of the map.

[Pureon]

I wasn't expecting the map boundary to take such a large chunk out of the map, but you're right, that's what it is. I had the whole of the Spain and Portugal on the map, and now only half of Spain is left visible

Ok here's a question for you all - do I increase the size of the map to 20x20 to show the missing parts, or leave the map at 18x18 so it only features the regions shown in the above image?

[Jancsika]

There is dead area of 162 pixels at the edge of the 18X18 map. (200 at the 20x 20).
Check out the Wiki:
http://smrsimple.com/wiki/index.php?tit ... ustom_maps

These areas are actually not visible at all in the game.
I normally paint a 150 pixel wide frame (Grass or water) around the perimeter and reduce the map to fit the frame.

You can place towns beyond the edge of the minimap, but not too far in, because it will be difficult to reach it in the regular game.
Jancsika

[Pureon]

Thanks Jancsika, very useful to know. I'm going to stick to the 18x18 map I have, purely so that the map can run smoothly without crashing.

I've been looking at how cities work and can't find the file that defines city growth rates.
Looking at the wiki, there is no mention of an xml file:
http://smrsimple.com/wiki/index.php?tit ... ds!:Cities

For example I would like a City to exist for over 150 years before it becomes a Metropolis. Is this possible?

[Jancsika]

For example I would like a City to exist for over 150 years before it becomes a Metropolis. Is this possible?

Unfortunately: NO.
We have tried in the past, but it is hard coded in the program.
About the map:
Instead of the 150 pixel wide frame, you can extend the area of the geography by 150 pixels, but you will not be able to use it.
Jancsika

[Pureon]

I've been trying to finish the terrain texturing using the map editor, however I'm randomly getting the above glitch. Parts of the map go black or green, with bits of the map flying around in space.

Is this normal?

[Jancsika]

Check your "Shader " setting. It should be at least "medium" .
I also would play around with the anti-alias setting.

As a last resort, make a new blanc 18x18 map and copy the contents of the files over. This helps, sometimes.
I don't know why!?
Right now I am working on a 20x20 map. I had to restart half a dozen times. But finally I've got it right.
Jancsika
PS. Sometimes too much texturing also does that.

[Pureon]

Thanks again Jancsika, I'll try changing the shaders and anti-aliasing. Will report back if it works.

Yesterday I ended up restarting Railroads! each time the glitch got too severe - not ideal but it worked. Too much texturing sounds about right

Edit: BTW after some testing I found it was the amount of texturing causing the bugs! I had to remove complicated areas.